2013 Game-by-Game: Week 10

In Week 10 of the 2013 season, the Broncos take on the San Diego Chargers. Check out some news and notes about the matchup.

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 10; 1:25 p.m. PST.

WHERE: Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego.

TV: CBS.

SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead, 57-48-1.

JOHN FOX'S RECORD: 4-2.

PEYTON MANNING'S RECORD: 6-3 (0-2 in the playoffs).

SERIES STREAK: Denver has won three straight overall and in three of its last four trips to San Diego.

LAST TIME IN SAN DIEGO: Broncos 35, Chargers 24, Oct. 15, 2012. For those who believe in the notion of a single turning point to a season, this was it for 2012. The Broncos roared back from a 24-0 halftime deficit, scoring three times on Peyton Manning touchdown passes and twice on defense to pull away with 35 unanswered points. Denver's swarming defense coaxed six turnovers from Rivers (four interceptions, two fumbles), including five in the second half. The takeaway that turned the game came when Elvis Dumervil sacked Rivers and jarred the football loose; Tony Carter subsequently recovered and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown that snuffed out a potential San Diego scoring drive and effectively represented a 10-point swing that drew the Broncos back within 24-14. Denver's defenders intercepted three fourth-quarter passes, with Chris Harris providing the final theft that he returned 46 yards for a score with 2:05 remaining, clinching the game. The win started an 11-game Broncos winning streak, while it sent the Chargers spiraling down the standings. The Chargers had lost a week earlier at New Orleans and eventually dropped seven of eight games before a 3-1 finish that wasn't enough to avoid the Chargers' first losing season in nine years.

NOTING THE GAME:

The Chargers' quick hire of former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy adds an extra dose of intrigue to this always-compelling rivalry. McCoy's first task is to restore the fortunes of the Chargers' ailing offense, and that starts with the offensive line, which was the target of his first draft pick in April (offensive tackle D.J. Fluker). But in the short run, free-agent pickup Max Starks might be more crucial. With Fluker pegged for the right side, Starks appears set to handle the left-tackle position that let down the Chargers week after week last season and kept quarterback Philip Rivers under constant duress.

McCoy becomes the first Chargers head coach without previous head-coaching experience on the college or pro levels since Al Saunders (1986-88).

John Fox is a San Diego State alumnus who played his college football in Qualcomm Stadium (then known as San Diego Stadium). His teams have won all three trips he's made there as a head coach -- each time coming back from a fourth-quarter deficit.

Only once (1989) have the Broncos managed to win a playoff game against anyone without first winning a regular-season game at San Diego. Even that year has an asterisk, because the Broncos' loss came in a throwaway regular-season-ending game after Denver had clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. As a result, John Elway didn't play in the second half and the Broncos lost, 19-16, but followed with consecutive postseason wins to reach Super Bowl XXIV.

The winning team has scored at least 34 points in four of the last five games between the clubs at Qualcomm Stadium.

Rivers has as many home losses to the Broncos (three) as a starter as he does to the rest of the AFC West combined. The Broncos have also held Rivers below an 80.0 quarterback rating in four of their last five games against him.